US first lady Michelle Obama offers condolences to Sikh temple community

August 23, 2012|Reuters

By Brendan O'Briean

MILWAUKEE, Aug 23 (Reuters) - First lady Michelle Obama onThursday offered condolences to family members of victims of theWisconsin Sikh temple shooting during a private meeting near thescene where a white supremacist gunman opened fire earlier thismonth.

The meeting was held at the Oak Creek High School, down thestreet from the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, where six worshipperswere killed and four others, including a police officer, werewounded on Aug. 5.

The shooter, Wade Michael Page, 40, had links to racistgroups. He opened fire on worshippers at the temple as theyprepared for Sunday services. The Army veteran was shot in thestomach by a responding police officer before killing himself.

Investigators have not determined why Page targeted the Sikhtemple.

Oak Creek Lieutenant Brian Murphy, the wounded policeofficer, who was shot eight or nine times, was released from thehospital on Wednesday. Punjab Singh, 65, who was shot once inthe face, remains in critical condition, according toMilwaukee's Froedtert Hospital.

"The focus of First Lady Michelle Obama's visit centeredaround the importance of continuing to honor and grieve thelives of Americans that were lost on Sunday, August 5th. Shealso offered strength to our family as we continue to care forour father Punjab Singh who is still fighting for his life,"said Singh's two sons, Raghuvinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh.

Earlier on Thursday, 19 senators sent a letter to U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder, calling for more thorough datacollection and analysis of hate crimes against Sikhs in theUnited States.

Sikhs are targeted because many wear turbans and havebeards, making them an "easy target for harassment and crime,"the letter said.

The shooting at the Wisconsin temple is the latest in astring of hate crimes against Sikhs, including two Sikhs beinggunned down in California and a Sikh transit worker assaulted inNew York City.

Before the meeting at the temple, Obama held a campaignrally at Bradley Tech High School in Milwaukee for her husband.